Home · Cyprinidae · Hookmouth culter
Hookmouth culter (Culter recurviceps) — Cyprinidae

Hookmouth culter

Culter recurviceps
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern
NativeIntroduced

The Hookmouth culter (Culter recurviceps) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 55 cm.

Length
54.6 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
East Asia
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Hookmouth culter?

Get the app

Description

The hookmouth culter is a slender, predatory cyprinid from fresh water of East Asia, mainly in China. The species grows to about 55 cm and has an elongate, silvery, laterally compressed body with an upturned, scoop-like mouth. As a surface hunter it swims in rivers, lakes and reservoirs and hunts small fish and shrimp. It is a local food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hookmouth culter?

The Hookmouth culter has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Upward-directed scoop-shaped mouth; surface-hunting predatory carp

Where does the Hookmouth culter live?

The Hookmouth culter lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. East Asia

How big does the Hookmouth culter get?

The Hookmouth culter grows to a maximum of about 55 cm.

Is the Hookmouth culter dangerous to humans?

No, the Hookmouth culter is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Hookmouth culter edible?

Yes, the Hookmouth culter is commonly eaten.

More photos

Hookmouth culter (Culter recurviceps) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) H.T.Cheng, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Hookmouth culter (Culter recurviceps) — Cyprinidae — 3
© President and Fellows of Harvard College (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — MCZ
Hookmouth culter (Culter recurviceps) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) H.T.Cheng, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Hookmouth culter (Culter recurviceps) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) H.T.Cheng, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Hookmouth culter?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Hookmouth culter is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Hookmouth culter verified
Scientific name
Culter recurviceps
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
54.6 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
East Asia verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes and shrimps inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Surface-hunting predatory carp; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Upward-directed scoop-shaped mouth; surface-hunting predatory carp sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Nets and angling sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Culter

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Hookmouth culter?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Hookmouth culter is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Hookmouth culter? Get the app